Welcome, welcome to your Anti-Preview for Boston College. Friends, the Fighting Irish are fucking hurting right now. They are riding a 3 game losing streak, and some of the whispers of dissent after the Michigan game, are becoming loud-ass shouts from Irish fans and the media.
Fuck ’em. Most of you already know my feelings about that, and I feel no real need to express them again. The fact is, is that this team is in its first year under a new coaching staff, and is rebuilding- again. You can see progress in some areas every week, even against Stanford, where they just played like shit.
Notre Dame is sitting at 1-3, and hungry for success. This game could be the catalyst for this team to rattle of some wins, and position themselves for a decent bowl game, while continuing to stay the course that Brian Kelly is planning on taking us. Yippee!!! First things, first though…
Boston College. Oh my Lord, what a fucking thorn in the ball sack this team has been, for 17 years. 17 years of “what the fuck,” and some Irish fans refuse to give this game its due importance. Most of those fans are alumni, and they have a certain problem with mentioning BC on the same plane of existence as the Irish. I totally understand, and if i was an actual alumnus, I’m sure that I would fall into the same category. As bitter fate would have it- I am not an alumnus of Notre Dame. I look at this game, and this BC team, the exact same as I did after that fateful game in 1993. I FUCKING HATE THEM AND WISH THEY WOULD ALL CATCH HERPES!
This is one of those games that looks like an easy win, but could turn into a god damn nightmare. That is, basically, what this series has been all about for the last 17 years. Boston College always has a handful of really talented players that are coached well, but from top to bottom; they are nowhere near the talent level of Notre Dame. I don’t want to be a dick about it, but I am just calling it for what it is. BC gets “up” for the Fighting Irish like no other opponent that they play. They really want to beat us, and hold a gigantic chip on their shoulders for this game.
The 2010 version has that same type of feel to it in some ways, but BC may have too many obstacles too overcome. Even though they are sitting at 2-1, they have enough problems, that they may find themselves struggling to make a bowl game. Against ND, they will try to lean on their ground game as they break in another QB, freshman Chase Rettig. The downside, for them, is that they are only averaging 115 yards on the ground- and thats with Weber State and Kent State on the schedule. Ouch. If BC isn’t able to run the ball better against ND- it’s going to be a long night for whatever QB they want to put behind center.
What should you be drinking? Whiskey. Whiskey. Whiskey. Whiskey. This is a game between two Catholic schools with lots of Irish roots. Might I suggest a few ways to drink your whiskey?
Get a priest suit, collar and all, and grab yourself a nice flask to put your whiskey in for the night. Speak with an Irish accent, and say things like, “God-damn________” , “Holy Mary! Did ya see that?” Stuff like that. Be a stereotype… it’s fun.
If you want even more fun, drink the BLOOD OF SATAN:
- 1/2 oz Jagermeister
- 1/2 oz Goldschlager
- 1/2 oz Jameson
- 1/2 oz Jack Daniels
Carefully layer all four ingredients, in the above order (top-to-bottom) into a 2-oz shot glass, and serve.
What should you be eating? You know, Boston is pretty damn close to Maine. So, grab yourself a big-ass Maine Lobster, and kill that motherfucker alive. He tried to clip Crist.
Here’s how:
Irish Stew: RESPECT. No, you don’t have to respect Boston College if you don’t want to, but there is someone who deserves mad respect from all of us: Mark Herzlich. Think about it. He battled a rare form of cancer- and won. He kicked its ass. One minute, Herzlich was one of the best linebackers in the country, and the next minute he has cancer. The thing about this that just blows my mind, is that he was diagnosed in 2009, killed it, and is playing football in 2010. Incredible. The black face-painted warrior is prowling once again. Let me give a simultaneous, “Aww fuck” and “Hells Yeah” for Herzlich. Welcome back. RESPECT.
What’s in a name? Culture. Irish culture. Boston College has two kids from their incoming class of 2009 (that makes them sophomores) that stick-out like a sore thumb to me. Both are defensive tackles… #92 Dillon Quinn & #97 Conor Ryan. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? What the hell is this, the cast from The Road to Perdition? Wow, and we are supposed to be the Fighting Irish. Mad props.
The Brawling Hibernian’s Angle: In a desperate effort to find solace in a season that has been underwhelming thus far, a large segment of Irish fans have drawn comparisons between this, Brian Kelly’s first season, and the first of Lou Holtz’s tenure in 1986. For those unfamiliar with the ’86 campaign, Notre Dame finished 5-6, losing 5 games by a grand total of 14 points (the sixth was a 28-10 loss to, then #2, Alabama in Birmingham). While the team finished with a losing record, it played competitively enough to inspire thoughts of greater things to come.
While it’s certainly worthwhile to debate whether or not this team is heir apparent to the Irish of ’86, one thing should be unnerving to those inclined towards that comparison – evoking history does not bode well for Notre Dame in their upcoming game.
In 2008, Notre Dame came into a night game on the road against Boston College having just lost a tough game at home (36-33 to Pitt in four OTs). For their part, the Eagles limped into their match-up with Notre Dame having lost two straight (45-27 to UNC and 27-21 to Clemson). In spite of being the far better team on paper, the Irish got thumped in Chestnut Hill that year, 17-0. Fast forward to 2010.
Notre Dame comes into a night game on the road against Boston College having lost a tough game at home. The Eagles limp into their match-up with Notre Dame having been blanked by Virginia Tech, 17-0, and forced to turn to a true freshman at quarterback. On paper, the Irish are quite obviously the more talented team.
However, as one disinclined to follow the “2010 = 1986” school of thought; I am equally unimpressed by the corollary to 2008.
Even before placing a freshman behind center, BC was the 73rd ranked passing offense in the country (Notre Dame is 7th). Add to the fact their rushing offense is statistically worse (93rd) and this is an offense ND’s 103rd ranked defense (God, that hurts to type) might stand a chance against. On the other side of the ball, BC does have fairly stout defense (35th overall), but against the pass they’re 84th. Since the Irish rushing attack has been anemic anyway (98th), this certainly favors Notre Dame. What’s more, I do think that the addition of Robert Hughes to the two-deep will provide a much needed punch to ND’s ground game.
So, after sorting through the particulars of history and statistics, I come down on the side of Notre Dame. Regardless of how bad they looked last week (and they looked awful) or how poorly they’ve played BC over the last decade (it’s been gross), I think the Irish have something of a breakout performance this week. Part of me wants to say they take years of pent-up frustrations and really, truly, honest-to-God blow BC out of the stadium. The more cautious side of me suspects that, while they’ll fall short of a blowout, they’ll manage a comfortable-enough, 31-17 win.
KGG’s Slant: The Irish enter this weekends game needing to win badly to get back on track. At 1-3 the Irish can either decide to lay down and die this season, or build upon what they are be taught. This weekends opponent should provide a stiff contest for the Irish but it could be a springboard to the later half of the season. Boston College enters this game looking like many of the past Boston College teams. Stout on defense and anemic on offense.
Offensively for the Eagles, the team has been offensive (ZING!). Anytime a coach pulls his 26 year old sophomore from the starting quarterback gig in lieu of a true freshman, thats has to raise some flags. The Eagles are ranked 73rd overall for passing yards with only 207 yards a game. They are ranked even worse in terms of the running game at 93rd overall with 115 YPG. Combine that with only averaging 21.3 points a game and you have the makings of a 2-1 football club that has only beaten teams that are a combined 3-4. BC struggled mightily in what has been a so-so Virginia Tech team last week. Tech forced 3 BC turnovers, sacked the QB 3 times and held the Eagles to just 250 total yards.
Defensively for the Eagles, its another story. The defense is lead by all wonderkind cancer beater, Mark Herzlich. Herzlich is having another stout year and may lead the nation in total cancer victories. Herzlich is flanked by Luke Kuechly who is 5th in the nation in total tackles but has yet to beat cancer. BC enters the game 6th in the nation in rushing defense only allowing 71 yards per game and 2.2 yards per carry. Couple that with the Irish’s inept rushing attack which is 99th in the nation, you have to give the advantage to BC in that department. Where the Irish should look to capitalize is against BC pass defense unit which is giving up 238 yards a game. If the Eagles want to stop Dayne Crist and Co, they must continue to do what they do best and limit the run.
If freshman Chase Rettig is really getting the nod at starting quarterback, the Irish will need to apply pressure early. 2 schools of thought on how to play a young QB and that’s a ton of pressure, or drop 8 guys. I assume the playbook will be slightly altered for the freshman if he gets the nod to include more slants, dumps and screens. Anytime a freshman is listed as QB1 on the opposing score sheet, defenses and their coordinators eyes have to light up. Diaco could look to dial up a ton of blitzes and to confuse the kid, but I think he needs to concentrate on pre-snap disguises. Stanford’s defense did a great job of that against the Irish last week in the first half (I say first half because by the second half, Stanford was clearly dropping 8 and rushing 3), and Diaco should try and do the same. Sometimes 3 down lineman, other times 4 down, but keep the young QB guessing. BC should look to key the run this game to take any pressure they can off their young signal caller. If the Irish defense can play like the flashes of talent they have, this could be a huge break out game. If the Irish can get pressure with their front 3 alone, they should dominate. Coverage by the corners needs to be nearly perfect the 2 healthy safeties need to step up to shut down the BC attack.
For the Irish offense to get on track this weekend, it all starts with the Great Dayne. Sometimes we forget that he is basically a true freshman in terms of his situation. 1st year starting + new offensive system = basically a freshman. Although he has only started 4 career games, he currently commands the 7th best passing attack in terms of yardage in the NCAA and is currently 9th in individual passing yards. He may have had an off week last week and struggled against that many defenders, but he is growing and learning every week. Dayne is basically doing all this without a rushing attack. If Dayne gets any form of rushing support from Armando Allen and Robert Hughes this week, then it will really alleviate a lot of pressure that rests squarely on him. Coach Kelly will look to employ more Leprechaun formation this week and has hinted at throwing from that formation (To me that’s coach speak for saying “hey, we cant throw out of this formation but play us like we can). I’m open to trying more leprechaun because it may be our only hope of having a mobile running QB, because Crist isn’t at the helm. Unless Kelly dials up some designed Crist rushes, then the spread rushing attack just isn’t going to work. Crist will run the ball this week and he might even be this weeks leading rusher. I think we see more receivers again this week with the emergence of John Goodman last week.
Look for Crist and the Irish to get back on track this week and win 28-17.
Offensive MVP: Braxston Cave may be a name never mentioned again on an Anti-Preview- but he is this week. Crist needs better snaps, and better pass protection from his center. cave is a mauler of a blocker, but he has lapses, where he misses assignments, and can be sloppy on some of his shotgun snaps. Better play from Cave, should mean that the offense will run more smoothly and efficiently. Every time Crist has to look down to get a snap, he takes his eyes off the field- and we can’t have that shit. Look for Cave to have a much improved game, and finally take that step forward that we need out of him.
Defensive MVP: Is Manti Te’o too easy? Yes it is- but that doesn’t change the fact that he is- and will probably continue to be our defensive MVP for the season. As Notre Dame goes up against a BC team that was shutout by Virginia Tech the week before, the Irish must not let their guard down. Te’o is the one that won’t let the rest of the defense fall victim to that trap. He is becoming more and more of a vocal leader, and with every bone-crushing hit he lays on the ball carriers, he gains more and more respect. BC will probably try to run right at Notre Dame- both inside and outside, so they can help protect their freshman QB. Te’o is the beast of beasts, and the Lion of Judah. BC will do all it can to help out its freshman QB with screens, draws, and misdirection runs… Te’o is built to destroy that shit.
Something else to watch Saturday night: As it has been discussed numerous times already- how will Notre Dame go after the freshman QB? Will they use a lot of different blitzes, or will they use a lot of stunts while dropping 7 and 8 guys on passing down? This is the real key to the entire game. The universal playbook calls for a lot of pressure in these situations, but Notre Dame seems to play its best defense when it rushes 4 and using the other 7 in coverage. What will they do? I think they mix it all up, and try to not just pressure the QB, but confuse him silly as the knock his ass silly. Silly.
Is there a “rivalry” trophy at stake? Yep. Two as a matter of fact.
This is the only rivalry game in existence, that I have heard of, that contains two trophies to the winner. The one depicted to the right is called The Ireland Trophy. It was created by the Notre Dame Student Government as a sign of goodwill and sportsmanship. The second is called The Frank Leahy Memorial Bowl.
This second trophy (and the one that I have yet to see) gives this game its unofficial name- The Leahy Bowl. This is after legendary ND and BC coach Frank Leahy. Frank coached BC during the 1939 and 1940 seasons leading the Jesuits to a 20-2 record. He than left for his Alma mater, ND. BC fans will say he was stolen away, but remember… they are idiots and are insanely jealous of ND.
At the end of the day (night): History suggests that this will probably be a close game, and one which the Irish should win- but lose anyways. That’s about to change. Boston College will be unable to keep up with Notre Dame and Rettig will look like a freshman making freshman mistakes all night- or until they replace him. IRISH 31-13.
